Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-04-08

dang ,rouS spirit of q VENTURE AMI % car -
lie absolutely b.amcless if sh, Couli re-
trampl,1 by horses cruel hoofs, or c:u-E'
by ore of the many traps going il and G =
Of barracks
Wien Eo ,tles hal taken his first i
icave after Miss &ignon's cominr, n i5,.
left Ler at Idlc:ninster in charge Of e
nurs,; but when long leave cane 20 y !
aSa.n AMI she mus have been about Q
ard Eaif, he deci Led to take her with BIN.
One reason for t4ls Vas certainly fcGr Ct
any pranks Gilchrist might choose 10 p,ar,
another that Lacy was taking his lea c n
the same TIM, and Bottles was afrei |, il
lie absenc, Of both, Mss Mignon might f.et
herself into a fever. And, besiics, h. Il ID
MISE the child during fortniSht's decr-
stalking in Scotland that autumn mo than
be would have liked to own.
From Blankhampton, therefore, they
went to his place, Ferrers Court, where Ee
was to entertain . rather large party for
Christmas, with sister Of his mothers. and
his ONLY nesr relative, TO do the honors FOR
hin, and among his guests Mrs. Smith, a
widow, and sistsr to that dead girl to whom
he fancied resemblance in Miss Mignon.
However, at the last moment, Mrs. Smith
wrote to excuse herself.
II am very, very sorry" she said, 'but a
very dear friend Of mine, with whom
spent two winters in Italy, has suddenly ap-
peare1, with travelling companion and two
maids, to pay me long.promissd visit OF
at least two months She is a Russ. an
countess-a widow, like myself, and wishes,
fancy, to improve her English. which she
already speaks very we'll OF course l am
dreadfully disappointed, but cannot help
it."
Now, it happened that Boobies had very
deep and great respect and liking for Mrs
Smith, and not for all the widowed coun-
tesses In Russia was he willing to upset his
plans; therefore he wrote of at once to MrA
Smith, after a five minutes consultation
with Lady Marion, to beg her to carry out
her original intentions and bring Madame
and her retinus ''along." Would she tele-
graph her replyi
Mrs. Smith did So the reply being, Yes.
Moreover, she supplemented the telegram
by letter, in which she mentioned among
other things that Nine. Gourbolska's
travelling companion must be treated in all
ways as an ordinary guest.
So, at the time originally appointed for
Mrs. Smiths coming, tho party of six
three ladies and three maids-arrived,
them. He found that Nine. Gourbolska
was young. not mora than thirty, Of the
plump and fair Russian type, quite fair
enough to hold her own beside Mrs. Smith,
whom he regarded as the most beautiful
woman Of his acquaintance. The third lady,
Miss Grace, was fair also, perhaps not 50
positively beautiful as either the English or
the Russian lady, but fair.haired, fair.
skinned, with soft blue-gray eyes, intensely
blue in some lights as Bottles noticed di-
rectly. Graceful she was to degree, and
Is he watched her move across the little
station he thought how wonderfully her
name suited her.
Mrs Smith smiled at him as be helped her
to mount to the top Of the omnibus. lis not
the likeness wonderfulf' she said, with one
Of those quick signs with which we speak Of
cur dead; and then che said, "Poor Rosy"
Bcotles turned and looked at Miss Grace
again, his mind going back to those dark
days, past and gone now, when he and his
best friend had been estranged for honors
sake. When he and this imperially beautiful
woman had stood side by side watching a
young life die out; had together seen the
sacrifice Of q heart, the martyr Of love to
man
"Yes, it Is very great" he said, briefly.
That dead sister of Mrs Smith had always
been and would always be notto-be-broken
bond OF uniol between them, for the widow
knew how gladly 'that grand Bottles" as she
ALWAYS called him. would have tried to
mako up Tor tho love She had lost, while to
Boobies Mrs Smith stood out from the rest
Of womankind as the sister Of the only
woman he had ever wished or asked to marry
him.
He helped Miss Grace up to the seat beside
Mrs Smith, and took his own place beside
the Russian lady, who entertained him very
well during the three miles drive between
Eagles Station and Ferrers Court.
'Oh, but what paradisep' she cried as
the carriage turned into the courtyard.
am delighted that it pleases you,n be
answered, glancing round to see what effect
his ancestral homo had upon Miss Grace
"Lovelyr she murmured to Mrs. Smith.
In another moment they had drawn up at
the great Gothic doorway, and Immediately
the figure Of a little child dressed in white
appeared on the top Of the broad steps, kiss.
ing her small hands In to,ran of walnopa.
$50 Il directly; youth got cold. Go in,
ay," Boobies called out. It was, indeed.
bitterly cold, and few fakes Of snow were
falling But Miss Mignon had Q budget Of
news for her Boobies, and was not to b
done out Of telling it.
''LAl has bad letter from home, y che
piped out IN her strill VOICE LAl was her
name. for Lacy, and homo meant Blank
hampton Barracks "And the st. Bernard
ha: gotted two puppies-bs:uties-and I'm
to have ora 1Al says %. And Terry has
broked hls leg" Terry was one Of Bottles
grooms. And Maj. Ally1 going to be
married" a.srI rs
Boobies vas - surprised that b forgot
the cold and his order that Mis- Mignon
should 60 in.
''What r. b exclaimed, ineredulously.
Just then Lacy himself came to the top of
the steps with open arms, - 70 speak, and
carried Of Mra Smith into the house Miss
Hignon took advantage Of the opportunity
to run down the steps Just - Boobies helped
Nina Gourbolsla to the ground. =
~ welcome you with much pleasure be
said, cordially-"Miss Grace also," a. he
gave her his hand to jump tho last step. ~
am afraid you are tired. You are very
white"
~ am tired" Ghe said, in . low voice, not
looking at him, but at the child.
1T il % bitterly cold. Don't stand a
moment Mignon, will you 60 inF'
Miss Mignon skipped up the steps, and the
Russian lady caught her in her arma
''Oh, you little angel! and what il your
nameI'
I'm Miss Mignon. YOU'RE very pretty
lady," returned 1ignon, critically. II
wanted to 60 to the station. but BOTTLES
said.it WAS too cold, and Lal-"
Madame does not know what Bottles
and Lal mean," interrupted Boobies.
This II Bottles, and that's LAl," Miss
Nignon informed her. '.I'm Miss Mignon,
and belong to Bottles"
'Oh, you belong to Boobies am sure he
must be very proud Of you" Madame
answered.
II believe I'm . great bother to him, ~
Miss 4gnon announced, In . matter Of
fact tone.
Bottles laughed. "Coms to the fire,
madame" he said Then. turning to Miss
Grace, I'm sure you are very cold-you
are - white - . ghost I'm surs," ad-
dressing Lady Marion, Aunt Marion. wine
would b much better than this tea"
mo. no; tea" thsy cried-at least the
two elder ladies, Tor Miss Grace seemed to
have No ears foe ny one but the child.
"Won't you speak to NOR she ash
presently, - Miss Mignon grsvely 70
garded her with her big blue eyes
Miss 1ignon went close to her imme-
6iafAIv ssniA R<<s1>~ 1~% 80, l-;-.D - 4.